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OLIVER ADMITS
BEING SUCKER
Says He Was “Whangdoodled”
by President in Canal Game.
IS PREPARING A ROAST
Illustrates Meaning of Wh mg doodle
by Reciting Story of a Spiked
Poker Gam: Out West.
William J. Oliver, contractor, is
mad clear through as the result of the
way in' which he has bc-en treated
by the administration in the matter
of the canal contract, says a Wash
ington dispatch. He states very em
phatically that he has been “whang
doodled,’- and proposes to tell how it
was done. He is preparing a detailed
statement of the case that will, it is
believed, equal in many respects the
sensational feature of the epistolary
deal between President Roosevelt and
th Storers.
Mr. Oliver announced that he spent
about 540,000 in incorporating the
construction company" which was to
assume the obligations of digging the
canal, being induced to do this by
assurances, which he declared clearly
indicated that the contract would
finally he awarded him.
“Do I look like a fellow who would
invest $40,000 in rainbows’’ he in
quired.
Not only Mr. Oliver himself, but
several of those who were in his con
fidence, have declared that he had pos
itive assurance from headquarters
that he would get the job, when he
straightened his hand. He declared
emphatically: “I dug up the men
and the dollars. My bid was the low
est, and according to the terms re
quired. I have been handed a very
diminutive line in exchange far $35,-
000 or $40,000 of my good, hard
money.’’
Mr. Oliver illustrated his condition
by reciting a story of a spiked poker
game out west, in which a “whang
doodle’’ was introduced and took a
jack-pot over four aces, held by a
tenderfoot. The next night the rules
were changed, in order for four aces
to beat the tenderfoot’s “whangdoo
dle.”
“In this case I’m the sucker,” an
nounced Mr. Oliver. “I entered the
canal game, made the lowest respon
sible bid, called the administration
hand, and got ‘whangdoodled out of
the job.’’
Because Oliver was too sure of suc
cess and indulged in a species of
boasting, or because some newspaper
men assumed to send out premature
reports as to what Oliver proposed to
do, is given as the explanation of
the president’s action in turning
down the Oliver bid.
The same explanation is made to ap
ply to the acceptance of Engineer
Stevens’ resignation. Stevens hail
done well, it is admitted, but he
wanted to complete the work with
out any dictation or intervention by
a contractor, and wrote the presi
dent that he would resign if Oliver
was given the contract. It is de
clared he was very much surprised
when his resignation was really ac
cepted, although another story has it
that he really did not aspire to be
known as the “man who built the
canal,” but resigned to take a posi
tion with a western contractor, at
twice his present salary.
In accordance with the president s
instructions as set out in his letter
to the isthmian canal comnuss on dm
posing of the bids received fo t
construction of the Panama canal, Mr.
Rogers the law officer of the commit
Mon sent a notice Thursday to Mr
Oliver, of the decision to rejecb a
bids, including his own. Ihe certified
check which accompanied. M •
evr’s bid was also transmitted to him.
but was returned by him to the keep
ing of the commission unt
OLIVER MAY Slit IOK t XRtNSES.
Says Unde Sam Should Reimburse Him for
It is rumored in Washington that
Mr Oliver will submit a bill to die
administration for ?,000 txpondod ,
by him in forming the Panama Con
Action Company- If
fro will take his complaint.to
ac^ Uhfe.
men wm responsibilities of ■
help assume the respui
the undertaking. j
LIGHT ON QUEER DEAL
Handed Contractor O'iver is Sought of
President Roosevelt by
Senator T liman.
A resolution was presented in the
senate Saturday by Senator Tillman
calling on the president to send to
the senate, “if in his judgment not
incomputable with the public inter
est, all papers of information in his
possession in regard to (he proposed
letting of the contract for the con
struction of the Panama canal, which
was bid for by W. J. Oliver, and
others, and to state ihe existing
status.”
In a speech supporting the reso
lution Mr. Tillman said the whole
country wanted the canal construct
ed with as little scandal as possible.
“There have been some remarka
ble occurrences in connection with
this work,”" he continued. Refer
ence was then made to the resigna
tion of Mr. Wallace, who, he said,
was berated and abused by the sec
retary of war.
“Then came the information that
Chairman Shouts was retaining his
railroad business; that the canal
work v. as insufficient to occupy his
entire time, and then the statement
that he was going cut.
“And then came Mr. Stevens' resig
nation. Now comes .the matter of
Mr. Oliver’s bid for the work.”
Mr. Oliver, he said, was an effi
cient and able contractor and his
bid was the lowest. “Rut at once
hocus p.ocus came info the game. As
I understand it Mr. Oliver has com
plied with every requirement. I may
be a little suspicious, but there has
appeared to me a disposition to let
in the hiddei’s who were a little too
greedy in their first bids. Now Oli
ver has disappeared and the army en
gineers are said to be put on .lie
job. I want a little information.” con
cluded Mr. Tillman.
Senator Carmack said he had pre
pared an identical resolution to that
introduced by Mr. Tillman. It seems
to him that Mr. Oliver had received
very bad treatment. He had spent
$30,000 or $40,000 of his own money
in complying with .he requirements
of the government and had made the
lowest bid. #
Because of objection the resolution
went, over lor future action under the
rules.
PROBING Of COITON tXCKANGES
To Be Started at Once by LSepartment of
Commerce end Labor.
A Washington dispatch says: In ac
cordance with the house resolution
providing for an investigation of the
business methods of cotton exchnnges
dealing in futures, the bureau of cor
porations of the department of com
merce and labor will begin a gen
eral inquiry into cotton dealing im
mediately.
Representative Livingston, of Geor
gia, who has been active foi months
in the agitation for reformation in
the methods of cotton exchanges, said
that he expects to appear before the
bureau and present much data which
he has collected on the methods of
cotton dealers.
The department has been supplied
by Mr. Livingston with the names
of many witnesses whom he wishes
to have called, and additional lists
will be furnished by representatives
of the cotton exchanges and other
persons interested in the investiga
tion.
As the resolution was amended by
the house committee on interstate
and foreign commerce it does not
provide for an investigation of any
particular exchange, but is believed
by members of congress interested in
tile matter to be broau enough to cx*
tend the inquiry to the New York,
New Orleans and Memphis cotton
exchanges.
CarWiirkers ot t or.st line Strike.
The car inspectors and car work
ers of the second and third divisions
of the Atlantic Coast Line went out
on a strike Saturday mcming in Way
cross, Ga. The men recently asked
for a 25 per cent increase, which
was declined.
senaior Galon is ahhoiMti>
To Succeed Himself for the Interim Term
By Governor lerreu.
Governor Terrell of Georgia has ap
pointed Senator A. O. Bacon to suc
ceed himself for the interim term
between March 4 and the meeting of
the Georgia legislature in June, at
which he will be elected United States
senator for another term of six years.
In a letter to Governor Terrell
Senator Bacon stated that he had
found ample precedent for such an
appoin tment.
BAD SMASHUP
ON SEABOARD
No. 38 Limited Crashes Into Run
away Freight Cars.
ONLY ONE LIFE IS LOST
Engineer Was Pinned Under Overturn
ed Engine and Cremated--Coaches
and Freight Cars Burned.
Train No. 38, of the Seaboard Air
Line, known as the Exposition Limit
ed, crashed into ten runaway freight
cars l 1-4 miles from Powder Springs,
Ga., at 7:04 o'clock Friday night, and
in the smashup which resulted one
man, Engineer Hudgins, was burned
to death, seven persons bcßly injured,
the passenger engine and live coaches
utterly destroyed and live freight
cars reduced to ashes.
A few minutes before the acci
dent a freight train one mile from the
scene of the wreck started to side
track in order to allow the com
ing passenger the right of way.
In some ' way ten of the cars, five
of them loaded with cotton, broke
loose from the train and started down
the track toward the approaching No
33 at a fast gait.
One mile from the starting point
the brakes worked, and the flagman,
leaping to the ground, rushed ahead
to flag the oncoming engine.
He says he did Hag the train, and
it is the opinion of those on the train
that either he warned the engineer
or lliat Hudgins in some way be
came aware of the dangei, for one of
the passengers testifies that tnere
were three distinct shocks, Iho first
when the emergency brake was put
on the train.
It was too late, however, for the
engineer to save his own life, though
his action, it is believed, was re
sponsible for Ihe safety of the pas
sengers, for the next moment the en
gine plowed its way into the first
freight car.
In the frightful shock that followed,
tiie engine tumbled down the embank
ment, a distance of over fifteen feet,
and there fell over on its side, pin
ning the engineer under it.
The engine being out of the way
the first baggage car then hit the
first freight car and piled upon it.
Another second and the mail car was
added to the heap, while the smoker,
halfway off the track, continued to
hang oit
The passengers, shocked and bruis
ed, having realized that they 'had
escaped with their lives, scrambled
out of the cars and crowded out into
a field of mud, while a heavy rain
storm beat down on them, rendering
their situation exceedingly uncomfor
table.
As the last of the passengers left
the cars the trainmen started on their
rescue work, the first coach began to
burn as if the rain were so much kero
sene oil. the maii car, baggage car,
engine and first coach blazing with
increased brilliancy.
The spreading flames soon reached
the other coaches, and then continued
on their way through five of the
freight cars which were ihe cause of
the wreck. The five which were ut
terly destroyed were loaded with cot
ton.
The injured were taken to nearby
homes, and the passengers looted it
through the rain for over a mile to
Powder Springs, where all possible
was done for their comfort.
SIIJUtN UEAIH lOK JIhGE.
hesborn Reese, Prominent Georgian, Suc
cumbs to Heart Disease.
Judge Seaborn Reese was found
dead in his law office in Sparta, Ga.,
Friday afternoon. His death is attri
buted to heart djsease.
The passing of Judge Reese re
moves from the scene of action one
of the most prominent men in public
life in the state, which he has served,
notably, in the capacity of legisla
tor, congressman, jurist and citizen.
ROAD OHIUILS Mbit A\i>Wlß.
Coroner’s Jury Renders Verdict Anent New
York Central Wreck.
The jury at New Yoik in the coro
ner’s inquest into the New York Cen
tral wreck on February 16, when
twenty-three persons were killed,
broughc in a verdict Monday night,
holding the operating and construc
tion departments responsible. Failing
to get names he declared that he
would cold the entire board of direc
tors and the president of the New
York Central an 4 parole them..
CAN CUT OUT BOOZE.
Judge Speer Decides Thit Munincipal
Councils Have R:gkt to Relume to
Issu: Whisky L censes.
In a decision Monday Judge Emory
Speer, in the United States district
court, at Augusta, held that the city
of Valdosta, Ga., had a perfect right
to pass an ordinance prohibiting the
sale of liquor in its corporate limits.
The opinion is the result of an appli
cation for injunction brought by E. E.
West and others, of Florida, that
would restrain the council of Valdosta
from passing such an ordinance.
Counsel for the applicants fully stat
ed the grounds of his bill and was
then asked: "Is that all?” HiS re
ply being in the affirmative, Judge
Speer delivered his opinion, w'hich is
in part as follows:
“This is a bill presented by E. E.
West and William B. Roberts, resi
dents and citizens of the state of
Florida, in which they pray for aid,
as stated by their counsel. This is
that this court shall grant an injunc
tion restraining the majority of the
municipal council of the city of Val
dosta from enacting an ordinance pro
hibiting the sale of intoxicating liq
uors within the corporate limits ot
that town. They are not directly in
terested in the -sale of liquor them
selves, bu.t incidentally they claim
that their property is benefited by
the traffic. One of them is a hotel
keeper, or is interested in a hotel,
and, presumably, there is a bar in Ills
hotel, or if there is no bar there, his
receipts are augmented by tbe bibu
lous individuals who flocked to Val
dosta to allay their thirst.
“I’he mayor and council of the city
of Valdosta having the right to regu
late and grant licenses, presupposes
the right to refuse tnem or to re
voke them. I think it will he a most
excellent thing for the property of
these gentlemen, and for the property
of everybody In Valdosta, and in
Lowndes county, and for their morai
status as well, if the city council (or
other city councils) would prohibit the
sale of intoxicating drinks, would
stand steadfastly to that prohibition
and enforce it rigorously by due pro
cess of law. I believe it would do
more to solve the urgent and vital
problems which are pressing on our
southern people, do more to decrease
the volume of vagrancy and crime,
give the farming and manufacturing
interests of the country reliable and
industrious labor, save the unprotect
ed women of our country from the
hoi ror of wrongs which shake the
whole nation, and more to restore us
to the simple life and genuine old
lushioned Americanism, safety, con
tentment and peace than all oilier
causes put together. And this will be
1 the last court, that I am aware of,
which will entertain an application
of this tort to interfere with the city
government, in any measure which
may stop the traffic in intoxicating
liquors.”
WHILE tNGiNHR WAS ABStNf
Freight Train Rolled From Siding to Main
Line and Collision Occurred.
With no engineer at the throttle,
freight train No. 81 drifted from a
side track to tne main line at Howell
Station, near Atlanta, Monday morn
ing, and was crashed Into with such
force by incoming Southern passenger
train, No. 143, that five postal clerks,
a negro passenger and one of the
conductors were painfully hurt, and
both engines badly damaged.
As is usual the freight train was
side-tracked at Howell Station that
Ihe passenger train from Greenville
might pass. While waiting for the
latter train to put in appearance. En
gineer Davis made his way to the tele
graph station that is but a few yards
distant from the place of the wreck,
and wai there at the time the collision
took place.
The siding on which tho freight
train lay is a good deal elevated above
the principal track, and, with no one
at hand to apply emergency brakes
or resort to some other expedient, it
rolled slowly to the main track, when
tho passenger tiain swept down on it.
A LOSILY Stf OF WHIbKf.RS.
Man Who Lost Hirsute Adornment in Gas
> xp’osion is Awarded slOl.
Samuel Beatty of Weilston, Ohio,
76 years old, has been awarded dam
ages oi slOl by tho circuit court
against the Southern Ohio Gas Com
pany for the loss of a luxuriant
growth of whiskers, burned off in u
gas explosion two years ago.
Blanch srd i ivepprovio* oi Move.
Governor Glanchard Declires.
Governor Blanchard of Louisians
has declined Lo appoint a commas
sion of three from that state to stud;
the race question.
A Most Valuable Agent.
The glyccrino employed in Dr. Pierce’s
medicines greatly enhances the medicinal,
properties which it extracts from native
medicinal roots and bolds in solution
much better than alcohol would. It also
possesses medicinal properties of its own,
being a valuablo demulcent, nutritive,
antiseptic and antiferment.' It adds
greatly to the efficacy of the Black Cherry
bark, Bloodroot, Golden Seal root, Stone
root and Queen’s root, contained in
"Golden Medical Discovery” in subduing
chronic, or lingering coughs, bronchial,
throat and lung affections, for all of which
these agents aro recommended by stand
ard medical authorities.
In all cases where there Is a wasting
away of flesh, loss of appetite, with weak
gtomaffh, as In the early stages of con
sumiftihn, there can be no doubt that gly
cerino/acts as a valuable nutritive and
aids >iie Golden Seal root. Stone root,
Quoefjs rolht and Black Cherrybark in
promoting digestion and building up the
flesh anwisfrength, controlling tho cough
and brinrmg about a healthy condition
of the while system. Ot course, it must
not be eJiiected to work miracles. It will
not curetwnsumption except in 'ts earlier
stages. Jt will cure very severe.mhslß
nalc. hang-on, clin>nti:
andmVvngeal iroiiiilcsTitrid chronic spro
rilrnarwffli hoarseness, in acute coughs
It is iiot so etiecl l ve. ITls In tho lingering
hang-on coughs, or those of long standing,
even when accompanied by bleeding from
lungs, that it has performed its most
marvelous cures.
Prof. Finley Ellingwood, M. D., of Ben
nett Med. College, Chicago, says of gly
cerine:
’■ 1 n dyspepsia It servos an excellent purpose.
Holding a fixed quantity of (ho peroxide of
hydrogen in solution, it is one of the bes#
manufactured products of tlio present time in
Us action upon enfeebled, disordered stom
achs, especially if there is ulceration or ca
tarrhal gastritis (catarrhal inflammation of
stoniach), it is a most efficient preparation.
Glycerine will relievo many cases of pyrosis
(heartburn) and excessive gastric (stomach)
acidity.”
"Golden Medical Discovery ” enriches and
purifies the blood curing blotches, phnplos,
eruptions, scrofulous swellings and old sores,
or ulcers. , _
Bend to Dr. K. V. Pierce, of Buffalo, N. Y.,
for free booklet telling all about the native
medicinal roots composing tills wonderful
medicine. There is no alcohol in it.
It is a groat reproach to us as a
nation of horsemen and horse lovers
that while our London cabmen are
perhaps the best drivers in tho world,
our society coachmen are probably
the very worst. —Cavalry Journal.
To recover quickly from bilious attacks,
sick headache, indigestion or colds, take
Garfield Tea, the mild laxative. Guaran
teed under the Pure Food and Drugs law.
Jig Dancing Keeps Him Young.
If you wish to become a nonagenar
lan then dance a little every morning
Just before breakfust.
This tonic is advanced by Alter
Silberman, ninety-one years old, an
inmate of the Home of the Daughters
of Jacob, situated on lower East
Broadway. Silbermann for years has
been dancing from ten to fifteen min
utes every morning before breakfast.
He declares that dancing is tho great
est exercise in the world.
"Dancing puts more ambition into
a man and makes him more cheerful
and happier,” said the white-bearded
patriarch yesterday, after he danced
the “Kotzatski,’’ which is a famous
Russian dance.
Silberman came to this country
years ago. He was wealthy at one
time, but. lost his fortune in specula
tion. He has been at the Home of
the Daughters of Jacob for years.
“My advice to the younger genera
tion Is that they should dance every
morning before breakfast and also just
before retiring,” he said. —New York
American.
AK
FOOLISH.
“Senator Briscum says he will not
tTy to be re-elected at the end of his
present term, because he Is unable to
live in Washington on $5,000 a year.”
“Good heavens,” exclaimed Senator
Itoxleigh, “is be one of the fools who
think a statesman has no right to re
present a corporation between sea
aions?”—-Chicago Record-Herald.
COFFEE THRESHED HER
15 Long Years.
“For over fifteen years,” writes
patient, hopeful little Ills, womar
“while a coffee drinker, I suffere
from Spinal Irritation and Nervou
trouble. I was treated by good ph:
Eicians, but did not get much relief.
“I never suspected that cofff
might be aggravating my conditio:
I was down-hearted and discourage
but prayed daily that I might fir
something to help me.
“Several years ago, while at
friend'v house, T drank a cup of Pc
turn and thought I had never tast>
anything more delicious.
“From that time on l used Posttf
instead of Coffee and soon began
improve in health, so that now I c i
walk half a dozen blocks or more wi
ea3e, and do many other things tl
I never thought I would be able to f
again in this world.
“My appetite 13 good, I sleep w
and find life is worth living, lnde
A lady of my acquaintance said i
did not like Postum, it was so wi
and tasteless.
“I explained to her the dlffere
when it 13 made right—boiled accc
ing to directions. She was glad
know this because coffee did
agree with her. Now her folks
they expect to use Postum the rea
their lives.” Name given by PO3I
Cos., Battle Creek. Mich. Read
little hook. 'The Road to Wellvil
in okas. “There’* a. reason.”